(a) Creation.--The Advisory Council on Library Development is established and administered by the department.

(b) Appointment by Governor.--The advisory council shall consist of 12 members appointed by the Governor, as follows:

(1) Three trustees of local libraries.

(2) Six professional librarians.

(3) Three laypeople.

(c) Ex officio members.--The Secretary of Education and the State Librarian shall be ex officio members of the advisory council.

(d) Term of office.--Each member of the advisory council shall serve for four years, from the third Tuesday of January of the year in which he takes office or until his successor has been appointed and qualified.

(e) Expenses.--Except for reimbursement for travel and other actual expenses incurred in the performance of his duties, each member of the advisory council shall serve without compensation.

(f) Chairperson.--The Governor shall designate one member of the advisory council as chairperson.

(g) Meetings.--The advisory council shall meet at least four times a year at such times and places as it shall determine.

(h) Powers and duties.--The advisory council shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Advise the Governor and the Secretary of Education regarding the appointment of the State Librarian.

(2) Advise and make recommendations to the Governor, the Secretary of Education and the State Librarian regarding the general policies and operations of the State Library and the State system of aid to libraries.

(3) Constitute a board of appeal regarding disputes arising from decisions of the State Librarian which affect the amount of a library's State aid or a library's eligibility for State aid. In any appeal, the ex officio members of the advisory council shall not have voting rights, and a majority of the members of the advisory council shall determine the outcome of the appeal.

(4) Aid in increasing public understanding of and formulating plans for furthering the purposes of this chapter.

(5) Promulgate rules and regulations for the approval of plans for the use of State funds and for the process and procedure to appeal funding and eligibility decisions.

(6) Approve or disapprove library district service areas which are recommended by the State Librarian.

Special Provisions in Appendix. See section 2(5) of Act 210 of 2012 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to composition of advisory council.

Cross References. Section 9312 is referred to in section 9302 of this title.